Beautiful almost to the point of fairytale, Lausanne is a small city with a lot going on. It’s the regional capital, home to Switzerland’s highest court, the International Olympic Committee, two universities, a school of design and numerous multinationals. There’s also an extremely rich arts scene and an impressive and varied collection of museums and some seriously beautiful architecture. The gateway to ski runs, it sits right on the beautiful Lake Geneva. The best places to stay in Lausanne take advantage of the location and the rich life on offer.

And of course, you’ll want to explore the car-free medieval centre of town: Ville Marché for its wonderful markets, and the Cité on the hill, the impressive Gothic cathedral which dominates the skyline of the Old Town, the castle and a collection of museums. The charming medieval rooftops and maze of old cobbled winding streets are a true joy to get lost in. The Olympics Museum is definitely worth a look and the Palais de Rumie is also worth visiting, it’s a beautiful building, and home to five museums. Make a trip to the Foundation de l’Hermitage for the views alone, and the Collection de l’Art Brut will amaze and possibly baffle.

If you’re looking for the hippest bars and restaurants in town try the Flon district; once just derelict warehouses, there’s now a lively arts scene, numerous galleries and theatre venues and plenty of restaurants and bars. Being in Switzerland, Lausanne is in the heartland of chocolate-making: don't miss the L'Espace Chocolat - where you can learn the art of making chocolate, and sample your own creations! Blossoming throughout Lausanne are exotic and colourful plants while east from Lausanne is the wine growing region of Lavaux and the Swiss Riviera. To the west, all the way to Geneva, is La Côte, a popular area for English expats. Be sure to book a cruise on the lake - from small motorboats to paddlewheel steamers - and drink in the enchanting scenery of the water mirroring the mountains.

What not to miss

• Stroll down the cobbled streets of the Old Town, past the galleries, chic boutiques and gourmet restaurants.
• Book a cruise on the waters of Lake Geneva.
• Learn the art of chocolate making at L'Espace Chocolat.
• Visit the 12th century Cathedral of Notre Dame.
• Check out the Olympic Museum.
• Immerse yourself in art at the Musee de l'Art Brut, a fascinating exhibition of art created by prisoners and psychiatric patients.

Lausanne is as picturesque as it is thrilling. Find out more by checking out our collection of the best places to stay in Lausanne!

The best places to stay in Lausanne

For luxury

• The Beau Rivage Palace is a wonderfully grand hotel which is proud of its luxury and hospitality. Set within ten acres of private gardens, it has wonderful views over Geneva and the Alps. There are 161 rooms and suites, plus a fantastic choice of restaurants (including one with two Michelin stars) and an award-winning, spoiling spa.

For a lakeside chateau

• Chateau d'Ouchy occupies a superb lakeside position and with this comes gorgeous views over the water to the alps. Rooms are classic contemporary in style, there's an outdoor pool, spa and a restaurant offering seasonal dishes from locally sourced ingredients.

For a Grand Dame in the centre of town

• The Lausanne Palace will tick all the right boxes! A grand exterior houses luxurious bedrooms and suites, a pampering Spa (with specialist AVEDA hair spa), and Michelin starred dining. An opulent stay in the centre of town.

For an apartment or villa

• Our partner Booking.com has a wide range of villas and apartments in the nearby area.

Travel information

• Fly to Geneva Airport, get a direct train to Lausanne, which takes 45 minutes.
• If you want to rent a car we recommend contacting our partner Rentalcars.
• The best time to go is during the summer when the temperature ranges between 15 and 25 degrees.

Still not sure?

• Browse through our list of all the best places to stay in Switzerland
• or Geneva
• or contact one of our friendly Gurus for advice.

Weather

Monthly Weather in Lausanne